Reading a Z-report

The full cash-up for one till session — who opened it, who closed it, and whether the drawer balanced.

Cash up

Reads top to bottom as the drawer's day: opening float, plus cash sales, minus cash refunds, plus paid in, minus paid out — giving expected in drawer. Under that is what was counted, and the variance between them.

The count is blind: whoever cashes up enters what they counted without being shown the expected figure first. That's the point — it makes the variance meaningful instead of a number someone typed to match.

Sales

What the session rang through: transaction count, gross sales, and the split across cash, card and gift card, with refunds shown separately.

Cash movements

Every pay-in and pay-out with its reason and time — petty cash, a safe drop, buying milk. These are what reconcile a drawer that otherwise looks short.

Chasing a variance

A small variance is usually miscounted change. A large one is worth checking against the movements list first (an unrecorded pay-out is the usual culprit), then the session's sales.